Grandmother's Stolen Ashes Returned

Security guards at the Westfield Plaza Shopping mall near Owensmouth Avenue and Erwin Street in Woodland Hills found a duffle bag lying in the parking lot

The ashes of a family's beloved grandmother that were stolen in a car burglary have been found and returned to them, authorities said Sunday.

Security guards at the Westfield Plaza Shopping mall near Owensmouth Avenue and Erwin Street in Woodland Hills found a duffle bag lying in the parking lot around 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

When the opened it, they found it contained many of the items that had been taken during a burglary of the Powell family's SUV last Monday, including a box containing the ashes of Betty Weikert, according to police.

The family had packed her ashes and was planning to honor her final wishes by entombing them in Delaware near her late husband's remains.

"My sister and I met my parents for dinner, since they were heading out of town," Matt Powell, Betty Weikert's grandson, said Thursday. "We went out to the car after dinner and saw that it had been broken into and everything was gone."

Two pieces of luggage were recovered a short time later but the duffel bag was missing until Sunday.

Police did not yet have any suspects and said the investigation is ongoing.

Detectives are still asking for any with information about the case to contact Topanga Area Watch Commander at (818)756-4800.

Correction: An earlier report erroneously indicated the ashes would be spread near her husband's remains. The ashes will be entombed.

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